March 27, 2008
From Earth to the Virgo Cluster
March 26, 2008 - 8-11:30 pm - T3-4/S3 In the space of a few hours, Jim, Donna, and I went from observing one of our closest space objects - the International Space Station and its cargo vessel, Jules Verne...March 24, 2008
Jupiter in the branches of a fast-moving tree
March 23/24 pm/am moonless/moonlight t4/3 s3 Jupiter, Europa, Io, Ganymede and Callisto - all playing a confused game of tag, tangled in the branches of a fast-moving tree - that was my main memory from two excellent observing sessions....March 22, 2008
Birds in flight - right through the Engagement Ring!
There was a full moon rising over my right shoulder, but I wanted to see if the 100ED could actually work on the parallelogram mount and in straight-through mode. It can. I had put the 30mm ClearVue in, so I...March 21, 2008
Rules are made to be broken, right?
The old saw is that "rules are made to be broken" and last night I enjoyed myself with a little piece of observing that broke every rule in the book. I report it here, simply because rules can become such...Before our time. .. yet bright enough to see
A gamma ray burst coming from the direction of the constellation of Bootes started on its way to us some 7 bllion years ago and reached here a few nights ago in a suddens surge of light bright enough to...March 20, 2008
The Cosmic Connection – selected excerpts
From: The Cosmic Connection, a brief talk by Greg Stone, Dartmouth, MA, March 20, 2008. I want to teach astronomy. Or maybe I should say preach astronomy – for the night sky, the dome of stars overhead, has become both...Astronomy Across the Curriculum
I see astronomy as a good cross-curricula subject because discoveries in astronomy challenge our core perceptions of ourselves and our role in the universe. What’s more, they frequently involve conclusions that go so far beyond our common sense perception of...Hands-on, Eyes-on Astronomy Education
How can you bring astronomy into the classroom in something other than an abstract fashion? There are several choices. In broad terms, here’s what comes quickly to mind: Make observing a homework assignment that links directly to abstract materials. Examples:...Web Astronomy Resources for Teachers
Amazing Space: This is the Education Outreach part of the Hubble Space Telescope Web site. It includes activities for students, teacher guides, lesson plans, and classroom projects. http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/eds/ Sky Almanac: McDonald Observatory provides an excellent written guide to the sky...Web Resources: Basic Observing Tools
Know where you are: Learn your latitude and longitude, or at least the coordinates for a nearby city. http://tinyurl.com/yrdtds Know when you are: Get the correct time right now, right to the second. http://tinyurl.com/68ij Know the Star Time: Go here...Web Resources: Robot Telescopes
I’m a firm advocate of “hands-on, eyes-on” astronomy under the night sky. For me there is no substitute for being there – for experiencing the cosmos from your backyard or schoolyard. There is something nearly mystical about having photons –...March 15, 2008
Seeing the "Pup" - how can you be sure?
There's a lot of excitement this observing season about seeing Sirius "B" - known affectionately as "The Pup" since it is a white dwarf that orbits Sirius, the "Dog Star." It's especially hard to see because: The Pup is close...March 13, 2008
Clouds, night vision. and light pollution - plus new binoculars
March 13, 2008 - T2S2 4:30 am DST The Astro Physics 15X70 binoculars arrived, but i have little to report except: Boy, when the clouds roll in you really appreciate the light pollution around you. Not "appreciate" as in...March 11, 2008
Out with a bang of celestial fireworks - and a galactic Mizar
March 10-11, 2008 - pm/am- T4S3 - 29 degrees After an early stint, I came in - so did some clouds - and took a brief nap, then resumed observing from 11:30 pm to 1:30 am when it was clear...Strange line on the Moon
March 10, 2008 - pm - T4S3 - 29 degrees Now what is that! I had been studying Mare Crisium by the light of the 3-day-old moon, having moved the 100ED to a temporary location where the trees didn't block...Gem at the bottom of the falls
March 10, 2008 - pm - T4S3 - 29 degrees Kemble's Casecade is beautiful in itself, but at its bottom this stream of stars pour into a small, open cluster that is dominated by an absolute gem of a pair...March 10, 2008
Extracting the essense - where less is just fine
March 9-10 pm/am T5S2, T5S3 I really can't pin this one down, but I keep getting attracted to the 66mm scope and leaving the 15-inch Obsession sitting idle right beside it. i think there might be two reasons -...The color of stars in twilight
Some people see no color in stars. To others the differences are dramatic. But if you;re one of those who have difficulty seeing these color differences, I urge you to try this: Look at some of the brightest, most colorful...March 09, 2008
Oh those wonderful power blackouts!
March 9, 2008 - 4-6 am- T4S2 Most people in Westport probably weren't up at 4 am this morning and if they were, they were probably cursing the high winds which apparently brought some branches down across powerlines, I...March 08, 2008
Cascades, glistening locks, and more galaxies
March 8, 2008 - T5, S1 It's been raining all day, but a cold font is blowing in now on strong winds, clearing the skies, so about 10:30 I picked up the 12X36IS binoculars for a quick peak -...March 07, 2008
20 million light years with just 36mm of glass!
I love image stabilized binoculars and have had Canon 15X45s for six years. But I just sold them to someone in Russia and took the money and bought new, 12X36 IS. Why? Weight and bulk, plain and simple. Maybe my...Complex and simple in a single package
I've been on a KISS kick - Keep It Simple Stupid. Only it dawned on me this morning - unintentional pun- that you don't have to be simple to be simple - you can use the most complex go to...Oh those refractor views - and good seeing to boot!
March 6, 2008, 8 pm - T3S4 Got to put the new (to me) 100mm Orion ED through its paces last night between periods of high clouds. Terrific. On Mars both Bren and I could immediately see Syrtis Major. I...March 03, 2008
Galaxy Games II - to see more, use less - and tread in the footsteps of Messier
March 3, 2008 - 3:30 am - 5:30 am - 26F -T4S3 Where the heck have I been? I'm not sure. In the Virgo cluster, yes. Down Macharian's Chain? Probably. M87? Maybe. I have three pages of rough sketches...March 02, 2008
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